Community Events

Substance Abuse

Parenting

PARENTING

A variety of educational opportunities are available to county residents. Several agencies, including Ravenwood Mental Health Center and Catholic Charities Community Services, offer parenting classes which teach helpful skills. The Mental Health Association in Geauga County offers a free parenting newsletter entitled, Parentalk, to county residents. Each edition contains information on developmental milestones and offers helpful parenting tips. Several county agencies also offer workshops on parenting issues such as the "tween years". Check out the Community News section of the site for more information on upcoming events.

WomenSafe is dedicated to eliminating domestic violence in our community and supporting its victims. WomenSafe offers presentations to the general public, schools, businesses, agencies, churches, and senior and youth organizations to learn about abuse-free dating, dynamics of domestic violence, date rape, elder abuse, effects of domestic violence on children, how to assess domestic violence, and how you can help someone who is being abused. All presentations are free of charge. For more information or to schedule a presentation, please contact Andrea Gutka at 440-286-7154, Ext. 224 or via email at agutka@womensafe.org.

The Incredible Years
Positive Parenting Skills to Help Survive the Preschool Years and Beyond!

The Early Childhood Mental Health Consultant can provide services to the school such as classroom consultation, large and small group skills building activities, and teacher training. The consultant can also provide in-home services for parent enrichment, one-on-one consultations, and behavior specific support.

In the Parent Enrichment Group, parents will work to increase their positive communication skills, limit setting abilities, problem solving, and anger management skills.

In the Dinosaur School the children learn how to communicate effectively, how to handle conflict through problem solving, and how to behave appropriately at school and at home. Dinosaur School will also promote the child's positive self-esteem and general social competence.

This program will meet once per week for 10 weeks. We will problem solve, work together, role play and help each other learn positive parenting techniques. These skills combined with what the children are learning in Dinosaur School will set the stage for positive social and emotional growth in your children.

Dinner, companionship, help, understanding and babysitting will be provided at these weekly meetings.

FREE!FREE!FREE!FREE!

Meeting Place:
Chardon Community Day Care
Wednesday 5:30 to 8:00 p.m.
Coming Soon

Dinner will be provided

To enroll in these services or find out about the next scheduled parent group, please call Catholic Charities Services of Geauga County at 1-440-285-3537 or 1-800-242-9755.

NAMI Geauga's Free Hand-to-Hand Education Course

Learning your child has an emotional / mental or neurobiological disorder can be overwhelming. Caring for that child can be an extraordinarily difficult task for any parent. The Hand-to-Hand Family Education Program through NAMI (National Alliance on Mental Illness) has been developed to address these concerns, to help parents cope with these unique stresses as well as to assist parents in caring for their own well-being. You will be joining other families with children or teens with serious mental / emotional disorders. The program’s dual focus on education and personal insight provides a comprehensive service for coping parents. You will learn about illnesses of the brain and their treatment, coping skills and how to advocate for your child. The class meets once a week for 9 weeks. Call the NAMI Geauga/Mental Health Association in Geauga County at 440-285-3945 to register for the next class.

ParenTalk™

ParenTalk™ is a newsletter available free to all first time parents in the Geauga County community with children ages newborn to five years. ParenTalk™ issues are sent every other month during the first two years, quarterly in the third year and twice a year for children ages 4 and 5. Some issues give advice about food issues, discipline, stress relief for parents, and managing other children.

The Very Important Kid Program (VIK)

VIK The Very Important Kid Program (VIK) is a self-esteem program developed for children between the ages of three to six. The VIK program currently helps to support the development of self-esteem of more than 1300 children in 66 Geauga County preschool and kindergarten classrooms. VIK offers teachers a variety of activities and lesson plans to reinforce the message that each child is special and unique. VIK is free to all Geauga County preschools and daycare through funding from the Geauga County Board of Mental Health and Recovery Services. Included in the VIK Program is a parenting handbook with advice on encouraging self-esteem in your child. If your child does not currently participate and you would like a copy, please contact the Mental Health Association in Geauga County at 440-285-3945.

BULLYING & Relational Aggression

Although educators have long been aware of the problem of bullying, most research in the past indicated that girls were not bullies. That was because bullying was originally defined as physical aggression. Research now shows that girls can be just as aggressive - although in more subtle ways. Girls use non verbal means - such as spreading rumors, writing nasty notes, ridiculing and ostracizing other girls as a form of bullying. This form, also known as relational aggression, uses the weapons of social manipulation on a "battleground of personal relationships". This method of bullying also strikes directly at the goals that are most important for developing female - social relationships.

These behaviors, while rooted in elementary school, are more damaging and dramatic in the high school years. Victims often suffer many long term consequences from the aggressive behaviors. Emotional torment can lead to depression, eating disorders and even suicide.

What Adults can do for a Child that is Being Bullied

• Ask about it. Often, due to shame or fear, a victimized individual doesn't alert an adult. Signs: sudden school phobia, lack of friends, changes in friendship relationships, fearfulness and anxiety.
• Contact school authorities immediately. School administration should outline consequences for bullying and provide ongoing monitoring.
• Further develop the social network of the child. Participation in group activities will integrate the individual into the social life of the school and encourage new and positive friendships with other students.

What to do for the Child who is the Bully

• Deal with the problem early to prevent long term and more damaging behaviors.
• Talk with your child and be clear that you and the school will not tolerate any more of these behaviors.
• Outline consequences should the behaviors continue.
• Utilize school administration, teachers and parents and form a communication network.
• Praise non-bullying behaviors and appropriate social interactions.
• Eliminate role models who demonstrate poor communications in these areas. Remember that role models may include TV, movies, video games and printed materials.
• Consider psychological counseling to assist your child in developing socially acceptable interactions with both male and female friends.

One excellent resource in this area is the book, "The Friendship Factor - Helping our Children Navigate Their Social World - and Why it Matters for Their Success and Happiness" by Kenneth H. Rubin, PH. D. Suggested skills for parents from this book include:

1. Let your child decide whether taking part in sport, club, or other school activity is truly important.
2. Be aware of their friendships and relationships with other students.
3. If your child is abandoned by their friend, be sympathetic.
4. Foster their sense of security in your home relationships.
5. Help your child step back and take a broader view of malicious talk and behavior - including those happening with peers.
6. Generate discussions with your child.
7. Teach your child to counter teasing and malicious words with humor or any other useful tools they may have available to them.
8. Know the signals for bullying - both aggressive bullying most often found in males, and relational aggression and social manipulation more commonly used by females.
9. Encourage your child to talk and provide many opportunities for dialogue about these subjects in your home environment.